Tim Pawlenty said his past advocacy on climate change was more a flirtation than a true belief in the issue.

Appearing Monday on CNBC's "Squawk Box", the former Minnesota governor tried to distance himself even more from his environmental record, which included signing a 2007 climate law and appearing in radio commercials with Janet Napolitano pleading for Congress to pass its own cap-and-trade bill.

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“I’ve said that cap and trade would be a bad idea for the country, Jack. It’s a mistake," Pawlenty said in response to a question from guest host Jack Welch, the former General Electric CEO.

"I looked at it, like most of the other leading candidates did, some years ago — flirted with it, for sure — but I’ve just admitted my mistake and said I was wrong," Pawlenty added. "It would be harmful to the economy. It’s based on flawed science, and we should throw it out the window."

Pawlenty's evolving climate views have raised eyebrows among Republicans who say he's trying to distort a well-documented record that once even had green groups hopeful they'd found a new ally.

"If you use the dating analogy, it looks less like flirting and more like he bought the ring and was waiting at the altar," said a GOP strategist.

Pawlenty is no stranger to climate questions, either. He’s been grilled on the topic this spring by Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham. During last month’s South Carolina GOP presidential debate, moderators reminded Pawlenty of the radio ad he cut with Napolitano for the Environmental Defense Fund, in which he pleads: "Come on Congress. Let’s get moving. Cap greenhouse gas pollution now."

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 1:25 p.m. on June 13, 2011.